Many thanks to iSchools Community Manager, Ulrike Liebner for sharing this wonderful spotlight on my new book! Since this iSchools Book Talk provides a nice overview of both the scholarly and practical contributions of the book, I thought I’d also share parts of the article below for those who might also find this write-up useful here.
What makes this book special?
Information sciences scholars have used the term “ecosystem” in previous studies referring to sociotechnical analyses of information technology use in community and organizational settings. At the same time, scholars in our field have been critical about using ecological metaphors without attending to the real impacts of technology on our natural world. My book seeks to address this critique directly by describing how digital equity coalitions in regions across the U.S. address digital inequality and social injustice while protecting the environment through technology refurbishing. The book also explains how digital equity ecosystems can raise awareness about social and technological inequality while providing solutions rooted in unique cultural contexts. In other words, this book is unique in that it’s the first in-depth investigation of the role of community coalitions in advancing digital equity. The purpose is to offer a community-level framework for the study of digital inequality, as well as a practical description of how people and organizations can work together to address the root causes of the digital divide, while strengthening democracy at the community-level.
Why should people read this book?
This book is for anyone interested in understanding how to tackle digital inequality while protecting the environment and strengthening local democracy in the process. People organizing in response to data centers should also find this book of particular interest, as “Digital Equity Ecosystems” ultimately offers communities with a roadmap to study, understand, and take greater control of the role of technology in their lives.
What will people learn from this book?
By reading this book, people will gain a deeper understanding of the ongoing problem of digital inequality, the relationship between technology and social injustice, and the impact of technology on our natural world. I hope that readers will also develop a greater awareness not only of these issues, but the practical steps to address these issues working together with others in their communities.
See the whole iSchools Book Talk and learn more about iSchools here.